Customer Reviews:
 Very useful book - in my opinion, at least! September 21, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've just read the previous review and feel obliged to redress the balance, having bought this book from Amazon prior to our own family holiday in Brittany this year.
In point 1. his review states that there isn't enough accommodation information but goes on to suggest in point 4. that they get rid of the accommodation details to make way for more information on attractions?! Which is it to be??? Do you want accommodation details in there or not!? What's more, with some 750 miles of coastline in Brittany alone, you're not going to easily be able to cover every beach, let alone every accommodation option or every attraction. That's just simply not realistic.
I bought the book having already booked our accommodation also for a recent family holiday, along with my wife and our two young boys. So, as it happened, the accommodation details were superfluous to us also, but only for that trip. I still found it interesting to read about other places and that information could yet prove useful to us for future visits which we will no doubt make (we had a great time!). Accommodation in the book is ranked according to price and value for money, both things that are critical to many families operating on a budget.
Where the book really wins out though, in my opinion, is in the niche that it caters for. I am not aware of any other books covering the area that specifically put families to the fore. And this is important - our needs are very different to those of couples or single travellers.
The needs of our children are foremost on a family holiday. If they're happy, we're happy. And it's obvious that the book has been written by someone with children as this is borne out in repeated family-oriented references to details that your typical reviewer wouldn't care about (high chairs, parks, changing facilities... that sort of thing). And, whilst the book doesn't cover every place to stay, every attraction, or every restaurant, it does highlight those that may be of particular interest to parents and children. That kind of information is gold-dust and not covered in any detail by other books.
I also recommend the book because of how current it is (published in 2007). Many of the places reviewed have literally just opened, or you get to hear about very recent changes at certain places, so you get a good insight into aspects that books that are even just slightly older simply won't have been able to cover.
If you're thinking of going to Brittany and have children, then go for this book. Don't be put off by the overly-negative review by Poppet's Dad!
 This guide simply isn't good enough September 10, 2007
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was given this book to use during our family holiday in Brittany this year. It was a very kind gift, but sadly the book just isn't up to it's job, and I can't recommend it. Here's what we found:
1. Why would you buy this book? If it's to plan your holiday in advance, it really doesn't have enough accommodation information. And yet accom is a large chunk of the book. Instead of trying to identify a small number of "picks" in what is quite a large area, it might have been better to signpost good sources of accommodation - websites for gites, camping, whatever. If you have already booked your holiday of course, the accom sections are superfluous.
2. The attractions entries. I found these to be the wrong way around. OK, the book is subdivided into areas (which are actually rather larger than you'd want to travel comfortably with kids), but for each attraction you have to go to the end of the entry to find out where it is. So you can come across somewhere interesting, read about it, but only then discover that it's a two-hour drive away. Fine if it's just you, but with young kids on holiday, two hours each way is four hours out of a precious holiday day, and with fractious youngsters in the car ...
3. Attractions and locations. It would have been sensible to have the attractions marked on the maps. Then you could have looked at the map, seen what's "do-able", gone to the index (but see "indexes" below ...) read about it, and made a decision. Instead, you have to read through the whole attractions section (for multiple areas if you are near an area boundary), then try and work out where it is (but see "maps" below ... again!), then make a decision. Sure, you end up reading more about Brittany, but with a mounting sense of frustration.
4. Attractions generally. There must be more in Brittany than this? There is, but not in this book! Less text needed, more lists, more map-referencing (see below again, "maps" ...). If you get rid of most of the accom sections, there would be plenty of room. What do young kids want on holiday? Beaches! What do parents want to know about the beaches? Probably: Does the sand make sandcastles; is it clean or dirty/seaweedy; are there loos; is there a beach shop and/or cafe; is there a lifeguard; and are there additional things like windsurfer and boat hire?
5. MAPS! I have a thing about maps, and maps in books is particular. I always buy a good local map. And in books I expect places referenced in the text to appear on a map, if possible with an indication of where they are on the map (usually grid referenced in some way, row/column letter/number if not 6-figure OS). This book fails spectacularly on its maps, and shouldn't have. It's a guidebook - so guide!
6. Indexes. And if the maps aren't bad enough, not all things in the text, that you would expect to be, are indexed, so you find something interesting, go back later, and spend five minutes trying to find it again before you hurl the book across the room in frustration!
So there you have it. Bottom line: looks like someone had a good idea for a book series, looked around for people to take on titles, thought "oh yes, my mate down at the gym used to live in Brittany", and thought that was a good enough recommendation to write a book. Sorry, it didn't work.
great book July 23, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you're going to brittany with children I can really recommend this book. Full of really helpful advice for families - where to go, what to do, etc. Must buy.
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